Adjustable clamp on head bracket

ABSTRACT

A fastening arrangement attaches a row unit to the tool bar of an agricultural implement. The fastening arrangement includes an elongated flat operatively connected to the tool bar. The elongated flat has a leading surface lying in a first plane nonadjacent to a second plane which includes a trailing surface of the tool bar. A head bracket is adapted to receive a row unit. The head bracket has an aperture therethough and is supportable on the elongated flat. A clamping nut and bolt combination is configured to fasten the head bracket to the elongated flat. The clamping nut and bolt combination includes a bolt adapted to pass through the aperture of the head bracket and engage the clamping nut in a mating relationship.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/657,906 filedJul. 24, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 14/755,034, filedJun. 30, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,743,576, issued Aug. 29, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ground working equipment, such as anagricultural implement, and, more particularly, to a system forattaching row units on an agricultural implement.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, planting implements (e.g., planters) are towed behind atractor or other work vehicle via a mounting bracket secured to a rigidframe (tool bar) of the implement. These planting implements typicallyinclude multiple row units distributed across the width of theimplement. Each row unit is configured to deposit seeds at a desireddepth beneath the soil surface, thereby establishing rows of plantedseeds. For example, each row unit may include a ground engaging toolthat forms a seeding path for seed deposition into the soil. As theimplement travels across a field, the opener excavates a trench into thesoil, and seeds are deposited into the trench. Individual row units areusually attached to a common implement tool bar, for example by U-boltswhich fasten row unit receiving head brackets to the tool bar.

Some planters, known as splitters, have the ability to plant twodifferent crops. For example, corn is typically planted in rows spaced30 inches on center from one another while beans are more closely spacedat 15 inches between rows. A planter having 31 row units may haveadjacent row units longitudinally offset from one another to allow fielddebris to pass around the offset units. Alternate ones of the units, 15in this example, may be pivoted out of the way for planting, e.g., corn,in more widely spaced rows while the those units may be pivoted down andemployed in planting crop such as beans in 31 more narrowly spaced rows.

Some farmers purchase a planter and modify it to change spacing. Theymay buy a 24 row planter with 20 inch spacing and change it to 12 rowwith 38 inch spacing to plant specialty crops. Tool bars are becomingincreasingly crowded. Today with all of the obstructions on top of thebar (vacuum systems, hydraulic systems, and other structures) modifyingthe planter configuration is difficult.

What is needed in the art is a simple technique for modifying a planterconfiguration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a way to attach head brackets to a toolbar using a clamping system for easier adjusting to the spacing of rowunits.

The invention in one form is directed to a towable agriculturalimplement having a transverse tool bar, a plurality of like row units,and a coupling arrangement for coupling the row units to the tool bar. Aplurality of like brackets each receive a corresponding row unit headand an elongated transverse member of generally uniform C-shapedcross-sectional configuration has the closed side of the “C” fixed tothe tool bar. Each of the brackets is bolted to the open side of the “C”opposite the tool bar.

The invention in another form is directed to a fastening arrangement forattaching row units to the tool bar of an agricultural implement. Aplurality of head brackets are each adapted to receive a row unit. Anelongated open C-shaped channel member is connected to the tool bar andprotruding therefrom to removable receive a plurality of row unit headbrackets. A plurality of clamping nut and bolt assemblies fasten thehead brackets to the channel member. Each clamping nut and bolt assemblyincludes a bolt adapted to pass through a head bracket aperture andthreadedly engage the corresponding clamping nut. Each clamping nutgrips the inner edge of the “C” as a bolt is tightened.

In yet another form, the invention, there is a clamping nut and boltassembly for fastening a head bracket of an agricultural implement to anelongated open C-shaped channel member. The clamping nut is formed as anelongated rigid member having a transverse threaded aperture and anelongated lip extending along one edge generally orthogonal to thethreaded aperture. The lip is contoured to mate with a correspondingedge of the open side of the “C”. The clamping nut may include a secondtransverse threaded aperture extending generally parallel to and spacedfrom the first threaded aperture whereby the clamping nut mayaccommodate a pair of bolts.

An advantage of the present invention is that if is now possible toprovide a common tool bar (or tooling) for different sized planters.

Another advantage is some tool bar clutter is alleviated and therepositioning of row unit head brackets is facilitated.

Yet another advantage is the possibility of providing a blank tool barand the appropriate row unit completing kits to allow farmers to custombuild a planter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of an agricultural planterincorporating the invention in one form;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an illustrative tool bar, C-shapedchannel and head brackets suitable for use in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tool bar, C-shaped channel and headbrackets of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the structure of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of an illustrative head bracket andclamping nuts for use in FIGS. 2-5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a variation on FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view of the variation of FIGS. 7-9.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one embodiments of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a portion of a planter 10 or similar agricultural implement whichmay be towed generally in the direction of arrow 12. The implementincludes a tool bar 14 to which an elongated channel 16 of generallyC-shaped cross-section is fixed as by welding along the closed edge ofthe “C”. As noted earlier, many planting implements are too wide fortransport on highways, entry to farm fields through gates, or for barnstorage. These may have a relatively fixed central portion withadditional portions extending laterally as wings which may be pivotedand/or rotated to a stowed position for transport or storage. The toolbar 14 illustrated may either form part of such a central portion orpart of a wing.

A number of illustrative row units such as 18 and 20 are shown. Theconfiguration illustrated would be for planting narrow spaced rows ofcrop, e.g., beans. The illustrated row units are conventional and arereceived in head brackets such as 22, 24 and 26 in a conventionalmanner. The current technology uses threaded U-Bolts to clamp around themain part of the tool bar 14 and attaches the head brackets like 22, 24and 26 directly thereto with nuts. These head brackets are attached tothe tool bar in an entirely different fashion in the present invention.

In FIG. 2, an illustrative head bracket 30 is shown in spaced alignmentwith the elongated channel 16. The remaining head brackets such as 32,34 and 36 are fixed to the channel. Brackets such as 32 and 36 differfrom brackets such as 34 only in extending further rearward andemploying an additional plate adjacent to the channel to accept boltsand clamping nuts. The channel 16 is fixed to the tool bar 14 by weldingat 56 (FIG. 5) along the closed edge of the “C”. A set of clamping nuts38, 40, 42 and 44 are positioned within the open side of the “C” toreceive corresponding bolts such as 46 and 48. Each bracket has agenerally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a pair of rowunit gripping arms 50 and 52 extending from an intermediate region 54.The intermediate region 54 includes a set of apertures certain ones ofwhich may be generally aligned with corresponding edges of the open sideof the “C”.

There is a set of four clamping nut and bolt assemblies for eachbracket. Each clamping nut may, as best seen in FIG. 6, comprise anelongated member of generally uniform cross-sectional configurationhaving a threaded aperture 58 or 60 near one edge and a laterallyextending lip 62 or 64 whereby the nut may be positioned within the open“C” with the bolt passing through a bracket aperture to threadedlyengage the nut with the lip gripping the inner edge of the “C” as thebolt is tightened. Any difficulty in locating the upper clamping nuts 40and 44 within the “C” to threadedly receive the corresponding bolts maybe avoided by first passing the upper bolts through the head bracket andloosely joining those bolts with the nuts 40 and 44. The clamping nutsmay then be tipped into position behind the upper edge of the open “C”and the remaining bolts 46 and 48 then joined with their clamping nuts38 and 42. An alternative is to employ the technique of FIG. 10.

The clamping brackets of FIGS. 2.5 are configured for a narrow rowspacing while the clamping brackets of FIGS. 7-10 are configured for awider row spacing as might be employed in planting corn. The clampingnuts 66 and 68 are again configured as elongated rigid members having atransverse threaded aperture and an elongated lip extending along oneedge generally orthogonal to the threaded aperture. The lip is contouredto mate with a corresponding edge of the open side of the “C”. Clampingnuts 66 and 68 are a good bit longer that nuts such as 40 and eachincludes a pair of transverse generally parallel spaced apart threadedapertures 70 and 72 or 74 and 76 so that each clamping nut mayaccommodate a pair of bolts such as 78 and 80.

An assembly technique utilizing these longer clamping nuts isillustrated in FIG. 10. Bolts such as 78 and 80 are passed throughapertures in head bracket 82 and loosely threaded into the clamping nutapertures 70, 72, 74 and 76 as indicated by dotted lines 84. Then theassembly is slid longitudinally into the channel open end 86 along lines88. The set of clamping nuts passes into the open “C” end and along theinterior of the “C” edge until the bracket is positioned at a preferredlocation whereupon the bolts may be tightened to lock the bracket atthat preferred location. The opposite channel end may be similarly opento accept head brackets with clamping nut and bolt assemblies.

Repositioning of head brackets simply requires loosening four bolts,sliding the bracket to a desired location, and retightening the fourbolts.

Substantially the same advantages accrue when employing a set of singleclamping nuts as in FIG. 6, or the double clamping nut as shown in FIG.10 and either clamping nut configuration may be employed in any of theillustrated assemblies. By moving the attachment point off the tool barand to a formed structural shape that is welded to the bar adjustment ismade easier. This also makes it possible to communize tool bars in theplant so that the base tool bar is the same for equal sizes planters.This would also allow the size of the tool bar shape (7×7 today) to varyin size (say to an 8×8 or a 9×7) without the need to tool another bolton head bracket.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A fastening arrangement for attaching a row unit to thetool bar of an agricultural implement, comprising: an elongated channelhaving a web operatively connected to the tool bar and a leg operativelyconnected to the web, the leg including a leading surface lying in afirst plane nonadjacent to a second plane which includes a trailingsurface of the tool bar; a head bracket adapted to receive a row unit,the head bracket having an aperture therethough and being supportable onthe leg of the elongated channel; and a clamping nut and boltcombination configured to fasten the head bracket to the leg, theclamping nut and bolt combination including a bolt adapted to passthrough the aperture of the head bracket and engage the clamping nut ina mating relationship.
 2. The fastening arrangement of claim 1 whereinthe leg is a first leg and wherein the elongated channel includes asecond leg, the second leg having a leading surface lying in the firstplane.
 3. The fastening arrangement of claim 2 wherein the clamping nutand bolt combination is a first clamping nut and bolt combination andfastening arrangement further comprises a second clamping nut and boltcombination configured to fasten the head bracket to the second leg, thesecond clamping nut and bolt combination including a bolt adapted topass through the second aperture of the head bracket and engage theclamping nut of the second clamping nut and bolt combination in a matingrelationship.
 4. The fastening arrangement of claim 2 wherein the firstand second legs and the web are interconnected by corresponding flangessuch that the elongated channel has a uniform C-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration, the web of the elongated channel being operativelyconnected to the trailing surface of the tool bar.
 5. The fasteningarrangement of claim 3 wherein the web of the elongated channel ispermanently connected to the tool bar by welding.
 6. The fasteningarrangement of claim 1 wherein the clamping nut and bolt combination isone of a plurality of clamping nut and bolt combinations and wherein theaperture through the head bracket is one of a plurality of apertures,each of the plurality of clamping nut and bolt combinations including abolt adapted to pass through a corresponding aperture through the headbracket so as engage a corresponding clamping nut in a matingrelationship.
 7. The fastening arrangement of claim 1 wherein the headbracket has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having apair of row unit gripping arms extending from an intermediate region,the intermediate region including the aperture adapted to receive thebolt therethrough.
 8. The fastening arrangement of claim 7 wherein: theleg is a first leg and wherein the elongated channel includes a secondleg having a leading surface lying in the first plane; the aperture is afirst aperture; the intermediate region includes second, third andfourth apertures therethrough; the clamping nut and bolt combination isa first clamping nut and bolt combination and fastening arrangementfurther comprises second, third and fourth clamping nut and boltcombinations; the second clamping nut and bolt combination is configuredto fasten the head bracket to the first leg, the second clamping nut andbolt combination including a bolt adapted to pass through the secondaperture of the head bracket and engage the clamping nut of the secondclamping nut and bolt combination in a mating relationship; the thirdclamping nut and bolt combination is configured to fasten the headbracket to the second leg, the third clamping nut and bolt combinationincluding a bolt adapted to pass through the third aperture of the headbracket and engage the clamping nut of the third clamping nut and boltcombination in a mating relationship; and the fourth second clamping nutand bolt combination is configured to fasten the head bracket to thesecond leg, the fourth clamping nut and bolt combination including abolt adapted to pass through the fourth aperture of the head bracket andengage the clamping nut of the fourth clamping nut and bolt combinationin a mating relationship.
 9. A fastening arrangement for attaching rowunits to the tool bar of an agricultural implement, comprising: aplurality of head brackets, each head bracket including at least firstand second apertures and being adapted to receive a row unit; anelongated channel including: a web operatively connected to the toolbar; a first leg operatively connected to the web, the first leg havinga leading surface lying in a first plane nonadjacent to a second planewhich includes a trailing surface of the tool bar; a second legoperatively connected to the web, the second leg having a leadingsurface lying in the first plane; and first and second clamping nut andbolt combinations for fastening corresponding head brackets to the firstand second legs; wherein: the first clamping nut and bolt combinationsincluding a bolt adapted to pass through the first aperture in acorresponding head bracket and threadedly engage a clamping nut of thefirst clamping nut and bolt combination in a mating relationship tofasten the corresponding head bracket to the first leg; and the secondclamping nut and bolt combinations including a bolt adapted to passthrough the second aperture in a corresponding head bracket andthreadedly engage a clamping nut of the second clamping nut and boltcombination in a mating relationship to fasten the corresponding headbracket to the second leg.
 10. The fastening arrangement of claim 9wherein the first and second legs and the web interconnected bycorresponding first and second flanges such that the elongated channelhas a uniform C-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the web of theelongated channel being operatively connected to the trailing surface ofthe tool bar.
 11. The fastening arrangement of claim 10 wherein the webof the elongated channel member is permanently connected to the tool barby welding.
 12. The fastening arrangement of claim 9 wherein each of theplurality of head brackets has a generally U-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration having a pair of row unit gripping arms extending from anintermediate region, the intermediate region including the first andsecond apertures adapted to receive the bolt therethrough.
 13. A towableagricultural implement, comprising: a transverse tool bar having aleading face and a trailing face; a row unit; and a coupling arrangementfor coupling the row unit to the tool bar, the coupling arrangementincluding: an elongated channel having a web operatively connected tothe tool bar and a leg, the leg having a leading surface lying in afirst plane nonadjacent to a second plane which includes the trailingface of the tool bar; a head bracket adapted to receive the row unit,the head bracket having an aperture therethough and being supportable onthe leg; and a clamping nut and bolt combination configured to fastenthe head bracket to the elongated flat plate, the clamping nut and boltcombination including a bolt adapted to pass through the aperture of thehead bracket engage the clamping nut in a mating relationship.
 14. Thetowable agricultural implement of claim 13 wherein the leg is a firstleg and further comprising a second leg having a leading surface lyingin the first plane.
 15. The towable agricultural implement of claim 14wherein the first and second legs and the web are interconnected bycorresponding flanges such that the elongated channel has a uniformC-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the web of the elongated channelbeing operatively connected to the trailing surface of the tool bar. 16.The towable agricultural implement of claim 15 wherein the web of theelongated channel member is permanently connected to the tool bar bywelding.
 17. The towable agricultural implement of claim 13 wherein theclamping nut and bolt combination is one of a plurality of clamping nutand bolt combinations and wherein the aperture through the head bracketis one of a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of clampingnut and bolt combinations including a bolt adapted to pass through acorresponding aperture through the head bracket so as engage acorresponding clamping nut in a mating relationship.
 18. The towableagricultural implement of claim 13 wherein the head bracket has agenerally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a pair of rowunit gripping arms extending from an intermediate region, theintermediate region including the aperture adapted to receive the bolttherethrough.